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==History==
==History==

'''Kathy's departure from Sister Sledge, Family lawsuit

'''
Kathy was offered an opportunity to record a solo album, an opportunity that she wanted to pursue. This was not the first time such an offer had been presented. It was the first time she actually considered doing it. Kathy never wanted to leave Sister Sledge. She never wanted to leave her sisters. She believed that releasing a solo album was good for the group. She thought that all of her sisters should record and release solo albums, (which they eventually did) as all of the releases and their certain success would contribute to the whole success of the group. When Kathy shared the solo album opportunity with her sisters, they said that if she recorded a solo album, she could no longer be in the group. Kathy took their response as her cue that it was time for her to shed the comfort she always had in performing with her “family.” Kathy never quit the group. Her sisters kicked her out.

After Kathy embarked on her solo career, Sister Sledge went on to perform as a trio. However, during that time, different configurations of the group emerged because different sisters, at different times resigned from and rejoined the group. Those years were topped with the discovery that one, Joan Sledge had diverted and redirected 100% the sisters' individual recording royalties to herself. Instead of pursuing the matter legally, the remaining sisters agreed to split 100% of any new royalties until they were fully repaid. Kathy continued her solo efforts, which included live performances all over the world, as well as intermittently joining her sisters for performances.

At some point, Kathy discovered that the Sister Sledge trademark had been abandoned and given the provisions of trademark law, the mark had to be protected immediately or it could be lost to someone not even related to the sisters or their family. Kathy took it upon herself and expense to protect the mark. Later, when the sisters decided to reform the original Sister Sledge foursome, Kathy and her sisters signed new trademark paperwork that evenly distributed the trademark ownership to each sister. Soon after, whilst performing with her sisters, she was told that she no longer sang the lead vocals to the hit recordings she sung in the original recordings, including their biggest hit, "We Are Family." Kathy would repeatedly be reminded, “We do not perform the song that way anymore.” These challenges from her sisters caused insurmountable frustration for Kathy and that was the end of the Sister Sledge the world knew.

In 2012, the Sister Sledge LLC, by majority vote, voted Kathy out as a member and in 2013, they sued her for unlawfully trading on the Sister Sledge name and trademark. They alleged that Kathy was booking concert performances as Sister Sledge, a charge that Kathy vehemently denies. Kathy asserts that she is adamant about not misleading the public and always books her performances as Kathy Sledge or Kathy Sledge, the voice of Sister Sledge or Kathy Sledge, the voice of We Are Family. However, in many instances, when she sees the advertisements or marquee’s for her shows, it will state Sister Sledge only and this always occurs without her knowledge or control. The lawsuit was later dismissed.


== Personal life ==
== Personal life ==

Revision as of 18:43, 27 May 2014

Kathy Sledge
Born (1959-01-06) January 6, 1959 (age 65)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
NationalityUSA
Occupation(s)singer and performer
Known formember of Sister Sledge

Kathy Sledge (born January 6, 1959), the youngest of five sisters, Carol, Debra, Joni and Kim. She is an American singer who has had several hits on the International Pop and Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, including "Take Me Back To Love Again," which hit #1 in 1992. She is the granddaughter of former opera singer Viola Williams, and daughter to Florez Sledge and former Broadway star Edwin Sledge of dance-tap duo "Fred and Sledge".

She was the youngest of four in the music group Sister Sledge and enjoyed many pop, R&B and dance/pop hits with her sisters Debra, Joni and Kim. Kathy performed the lead vocals to their biggest hits, "He's the Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family."

Sledge collaborated with Dance producer Robert Miles on dance/pop hit "Freedom" 1997.

She returned to the dance chart in 2001 as a featured vocalist for King Britt's musical project Sylk 130 on the track "Rising".

In 2011, she released a track called "Give Yourself Up" on Universal Records, featuring Adam Barta, and produced by Mike Rizzo and Mr. Mig, which hit Top 20 on the Billboard Hot Club Play Chart.[1]

September 2013, she was the first signing of the new Pacific Electronic Music record label formed by Jerry L. Greenberg (former President of Atlantic Records), Max Martire & Lenny Ibizarre.[2]
September 25, 2013 she received an "Outstanding Contribution to Music" award at the 16th DJ Awards at Pacha, Ibiza.[3] and performed the new Aristofreeks remix of We Are Family.
The first release of the 5 remixes of We Are Family that she re-recorded with the Aristofreeks were released on November 11, 2013.

History

Personal life

Filmography

See also

References

  1. ^ Slomowicz, Ron, (DJ), "Song of the Day: Kathy Sledge featuring Adam Barta - 'Give Yourself Up'", About.com Guide, April 29, 2011
  2. ^ http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/5733072/jerry-greenberg-former-atlantic-prez-and-chic-breaker-to
  3. ^ http://www.essentialibiza.com/news/dj-awards-2013.asp


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